This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Dai, D. Articles by Leslie, K. K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Dai, D. Articles by Leslie, K. K.

¹ Reproductive Molecular Biology Laboratory, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico and ² Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado USA

Requests for reprints: Kimberly K. Leslie, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, MSC10 5580, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131. Phone: 505-272-6386; Fax: 505-272-3921. E-mail: KLeslie{at}salud.unm.edu

Cancer of the uterine endometrium is a frequent gynecologic malignant disease for which few therapeutic options are available for advanced disease. Progesterone is the normal female hormone that limits growth and proliferation of endometrial cancers; however, progesterone receptors are frequently down-regulated, leading to treatment failures. The current studies explored the effectiveness of adenoviral-mediated progesterone receptor gene transduction in combination with progestin therapy in mouse xenograft models. Pretreatment of cells with progesterone receptor–encoding adenovirus and progestin inhibited the development of s.c. tumors in athymic mice. In the i.p. xenograft model, replacement of both isoforms of progesterone receptor, PRA and PRB, in combination with progestin treatment resulted in a significant 2.6-fold increase in overall survival time compared with control animals. These studies indicate that when progesterone receptor levels are maintained, progestin therapy is effective in limiting tumor growth. Future therapeutic regimens targeted at enhancing progesterone receptor expression have the potential to improve outcomes in women with endometrial cancer.

Key Words: endometrial cancer • progesterone • progestin • progesterone receptors • adenovirus • medroxyprogesterone acetate • mice • animals

Grant support: University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center Research Allocation Committee grant (D. Dai), NIH grant CAR01 9990801 (K.K. Leslie and D. Dai), and the Cory/Beach Family Fund [a generous gift provided to support endometrial cancer research in honor of the memory of Barbara Beach] (K.K. Leslie and D. Dai).

The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked advertisement in accordance with U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

Received 8/ 2/04; revised 11/11/04; accepted 11/16/04.